We reserve the right to remove any post or user from the LPL forums at any time. If you find a post has been deleted, chances are it violated one or more of the rules below. Repeated violation of these rules may result in the suspension of your account and posting privileges or a permanent ban from the forums.

Forum Rules

1. Do not post links to officially released media files or ask others to post such links. See "Media Rules" section below for details. The Shoutbox is NOT off limits to the rules. Posting illegal links in the Shoutbox is convenient but also is not allowed. Do not take official audio and provide a download link. Links to off-site STREAMS (no downloads) are allowed.
2. Please avoid off-topic posting.
3. Flaming or abusing other users or the staff in any way will not be tolerated under any circumstances. Do not harass, threaten or stalk anyone.
4. Please use the “post report” feature to report posts.
5. Posting pornographic or socially unacceptable text, images, links, etc. will not be tolerated.
6. When copying, reposting, or using any news or other material from another website, please cite the source.
7. Members should post in a way which is consistent with "normal writing". This means users should refrain from creating posts with excessive numbers of images, emoticons, too large/too small or colored text.
8. Spam and/or flooding the forums will not be tolerated under any circumstances. Double posting is discouraged, but fine when it is relevant to the thread.
9. Do not impersonate another board member, create alias accounts or create an account specifically for the purpose of provoking other users.
10. If you are suspended for any reason, do not create another account to post on the forums with. This will result in an immediate ban of your accounts and IP address(es). No exceptions.

Media Rules

Allowed:
1. Audio or video released by Linkin Park including:
Publicly released demos, including those distributed on mp3.com, hybridtheory.com or linkinpark.com in the band’s early days;
Excerpts or snippets of songs released or distributed on linkinpark.com, mikeshinoda.com, MySpace, YouTube, SoundCloud, etc;
Remix stems from official remix competitions, like with ‘Bleed It Out’, ‘Guilty All The Same’, etc.
Instrumental tracks as released via promotional or radio CD. Excludes the official Hybrid Theory album instrumentals;
Webcasts;
MTV2’s Reanimation music videos;
LPTV episodes prior to 2007 and not including the full LPTV episodes from 2007 which were sold on iTunes (the short versions of the 2007 LPTV episodes are ok);
Out of print releases of previous/related bands including but not limited to:
* Xero – Xero tape (demos)
* Hybrid Theory – Hybrid Theory EP
* Snax/Tasty Snax – Run Joseph Run, The Snax (self titled)

2. Fan made recordings in any audio or video format:
Unofficial recordings commonly known as “bootlegs” which are sold in shops and/or the internet but not authorized for sale by the band, it’s label or any other legal representative of them nor are commercially licensed by any other party or entity;
Remixes, alternate mixes or alternate edits of officially released tracks provided they are sufficiently edited so that a majority of the content differs from the official release.

3. Soundboard recordings:
Taken from webcasts, terrestrial or satellite radio recordings provided they require no subscription.
“Out of print” live soundboard recordings are allowed. For example, the Circuit City version with live songs from Third Encore is now longer in print and is unavailable to buy. These are allowed to be shared on the forum.
* In 5.0, the official sources on show pages are called “Source 0”. See specific rules in regards to what can and can’t be shared. A general rule of thumb is that if it is still available to be bought somewhere online or offline, it cannot be shared.

4. Proshot video:
Recorded from television, webcast or other broadcasts. Subscription events are allowed to be shared in the forum, like WOWOW Japan or MTV unless it is an online VOD service (see “not allowed” list below). Alternate sources of these pay-per-view events are allowed as well (webcast of a show that was on TV).

5. Alternate recordings of officially released materials (i.e. fan recorded audio or video from a live performance where a show was recorded officially and later released on CD/DVD by the band).
6. Interviews (audio or video) with band members, staff, etc except if included as part of any of the below (official release).

Not allowed:
1. Officially released audio or video of any band/artist in any format, in print or out of print (what is allowed is listed above), whether released for sale worldwide or to a limited area or limited to a certain number of pressings/units sold, including but not limited to:
Soundboard recordings (DSPs) released through downloads.linkinpark.com and/or sold at the merchandise booths beginning with the 2007 Projekt Revolution Tour;
* In 5.0, the official sources on show pages are called “Source 0”. See specific rules in regards to what can and can’t be shared. A general rule of thumb is that if it is still available to be bought somewhere online or offline, it cannot be shared.
* Shoutbox and forum are not places for illegal download links like links on Soundcloud and YouTube links or direct links to official material. STREAMING LINKS ARE ALLOWED, but no downloads!

Radio or television broadcasts or promotional CDs, where the content is the same as the official track(s) in question
* Including interviews where clips or officially released tracks are broadcast – these official portions must be cut out before they will be considered allowable.
Releases sold commercially as “Tribute to…”, “Unauthorized Biography of…” or those of similar content;
Songs, albums or videos sold on iTunes, Amazon, Rhapsody or any other online music retailer (that are still available for purchase);
Compilation CDs, DVDs or soundtracks.
Grey Daze tracks from Wake Me, No Sun Today and demos; Sean Dowdell & His Friends (demos)
The official Hybrid Theory album instrumentals;

2. Upcoming official releases announced by the artist or the label (aka album leaks, etc).
3. The audio of any performance used as the sound on officially released video material:
Recordings from another source than that the sound in the officially available material (i.e. radio broadcast of the audio from an officially released live CD/DVD);
Instrumental tracks as ripped from officially released materials including DVD menus or audio-only tracks from DVDs;
‘Multi-track’ instrumentals taken from officially released console, PC or Mac video games including but not limited to Rock Band, Guitar Hero, etc (unless Linkin Park is doing it for a remix contest, which is allowed).

4. Video material whose audio portion has officially released content:
Official music videos (except the MTV2 Reanimation videos, which are fine);
Anime music videos (also known as AMVs).

5. Audio or video recorded from the LP Underground
Material distributed to fan club members as part of the membership package included in their club dues. LPU live songs are not allowed to be shared unless any of the songs become unavailable via the LPU website.

6. Audio or video of music-related content
Clips or excerpts of movies, films, television shows etc.
7. VOD (Paid video on demand)
Platforms that are not limited to a certain country. iConcerts, EVNTLIVE, etc (mainly the online concerts if they are sold). If most people can pay for it online, it is not allowed. HBO, WOWOW, etc (location-based) video IS allowed.

Signatures and Avatars

1. Signatures may contain up to ten lines of text (of small or normal size) and/or one image, valid combinations include; a single image of no more than 200px high, 600px wide.
2. Text sizes should be between 75% and 100% (small and normal). Text in signatures is subject to the same conditions as posts with respect decency, respectfulness, emoticons, etc.
3. Links in signatures are permitted. However, links to any inappropriate sites, such as pornography, sites that contain viruses or could harm another user's computer are prohibited.
4. Users are permitted to use a avatar or to link to one of their own. User defined avatars are to be no larger than 120 x 120 pixels.
5. Avatars are subject to the same conditions as posts with respect decency, respectfulness, emoticons, etc.
6. Users abusing these rules will be warned and/or may lose their signature and avatar privileges.

Policing

The forum moderators operate on a four-strike policy. The policy is as follows:

1. Arguing with the staff after having received a warning or other form of consequence will lead to an additional warning.
2. Any attempt to circumvent a temporary ban will lead to that ban being made permanent. Circumvention includes re-registering under a non-banned username, changing IP addresses to evade an IP ban, registering a new email account to evade an email ban.
3. An exception to the strike policy applies when users contact team members personally (via any method) and post insulting, indecent or vulgar material. Such users may be subject to an immediate permanent ban.
4. Permanent bans are a last resort and much thought and consideration will be given before implementing them.

if some one buys soundboard audio from linkin parks website and than makes a dvd using AMT footage but soundboard audio that they bought from the site, would they be allowed to post that or is that not allowed?

I'm not sure where to post this, but I figure it's something that invloves the rules/regs.

what is the actual function of the "report" button?
I've read this -

3. Members are asked to not act as “back seat moderators”. If members note an issue which violates a forum rule, then we ask that you bring this to the attention of a member of the staff. Please use the “post report” feature to report posts. Do not respond to such topics yourself.

but is it purely for spam posts, banned uploads etc? or is it a means to report things like topics that need moving/merged?
another forum I'm on uses it to cover all of the above and I'm wondering if the same applies here.

User the Report button if you need to bring a post to our immediate attention i.e. rule violations and spam.
If you'd like to make suggestions, like moving/merging threads, you should PM a moderator directly.

Hey, i got in trouble a couple of weeks ago for saying a word that we are not spouse to say on this site.
I read the rules and can't find it, so maybe to help new members you could add a section of the rules as to what words we can not use (or topics of words)?